Alfredo Di Stéfano is in a critical condition after the Real Madrid legend suffered a heart attack in the street the day after his 88th birthday.

The former Argentina, Colombia and Spain international is reported to have been taken to intensive care at Gregorio Marañon hospital in the centre of Madrid after suffering the attack close to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. Di Stéfano – who is Real Madrid’s honorary president – was attended to by emergency medical services before being transferred to hospital. The cardiac arrest lasted 18 minutes, according to the emergency services.

The hospital medical report said Di Stefano was “stable” but “serious.” It said he has been sedated, received a tracheal intubation, and was on mechanical ventilation.

Di Stéfano was voted European Footballer of the Year in 1957 and 1959 and helped Real win five European Cups and eight league titles.

A diabetic, Di Stéfano underwent a quadruple aorta-coronary bypass with a pacemaker implanted in December 2005 after suffering a myocardial infarction. He has been hospitalised several times in recent years to monitor his heart condition.